Electric can opener with switch in base



March 19, 1957 L H. JOHNSON ETAL ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WITH SWITCH IN BASEFiled Aug. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-S heet 1 s m S m M W. www: .rm a HW. y d

M/ W 0S, e@ LW` W March 19, 1957 l.. H. JOHNSON ETAL Filed Aug. 17, 195eELECTRIC CAN OPENER WITH SWITCH IN BASE www@A Fig. 6 Lea/and H. Johnson`24 46 Wes/ey W. Tul/ y l 40N 22 22 IN V EN TORS 9 By @gm HMMW UnitedStates ,2,185,460 t ELEC-True"vom OPENER; `vvrrrr"-swrrcn` 1N BASE.

f -=fl`his.{inventioncomprises anovel and usefulecanopener @andmorespeeiicallypertains to` ani-automatic electrically 1:2 operated canopenerhaving agreatly improved construction. -andmode tot@ operation.

i ,fThefprimary' :object oflthis invention is `tol provide aacan'fopener-fwhich willz-greatly facilitate `andfspeedV1 up the openingofeoanslof-liquids such as beer and theilike.

f Aift'urtl'ier` object of the invention is toiprovide a can lfgopenerg'wbose operation shallf be entirely y automatic a-ndwill-.beinitiated by theplaeing of a'caninpropegr position ,arbelowftheoperating elements of `the can Lopener.

ngffurthenobjectief.` theinvention is toprovidetan'irn- @proved caniopener whiehwill eliminate f the unsanitary andillmhygienic` `conditionsattending. the v,opening oi Icans 1 yimanualan openers which are'frequently exposed to dirtlvand otherpnsa-nitary conditions` duringtheir periods fof non-puse.

`Atstill ,further objectof ther-invention is` to )provide allaCalif-opener infaccordance `with -the precedingrobjects which willlargely eliminate the possibility :ofqinjury to theAffuse-rvbythejaggedsurfaces'of cansorftheapoints or lades tof; otheri can`openers. y ianother object` offtheiinvention is `top provide an uniaufomaticajcanopenerf whose basen/ill facilitatefthe-.po-

lsitiioning of cans `fori-the-automaticfopening ofthe :same

nd will alsoicollectanyfspillingor overflow of the conetents-iofnthe`cans during their opening.

Netfanothernimpottant purpose ofdhe'linvention` is to ff-wprovideawcanuopener" in conformity i with' ther fforegoing :iobie'ctsfwhich.t'mayy be veryfeasilydisassembled for comi pactl:storage,for :fon servicing e ornreplacement of 1 any of parts.

i t iAstilhfurther'objecteof -`theiinvention isfto providennaracanzlopenenwhichshall be automaticiin `its operation -andYwill-#beAll actuated by electrical means and- `wherein a'eswitchfor-controlling thef'automatic operation lwill be `amounted'incthe:baseiofwthenopener andiat aposition y @t Demoter 'from i' thetropener r bladeof -the i device; -to Vthereby `if=fnxiriinizeothe'rpossibilityof-injury to thewhands of the i operator:bw-accidentaliloperationof theswitch.`

f; f Anfurthefr: andi'veryimportantpurpose ofnthefinvention b istoiprovidei an. automatic can opener' inaecordance 4with j heqforegoingobjects wherein Vtheloperatingfhead" of` the il devicelmay'iberreadily:vertically adjustable .upon supportingstandardsftoadapt `the same `to accommodate different fisizesof cans.

s A still; further`` important objecttotitheinvention is to `provide anautomatically operated :can4 opener Awherein thrsolenoidv for actuatingthe same may be securely poionedKuponand supported by a-rnember which isverticallyadjiifstable upona plurality of standardsyand wherey `thenclosinghousing of the solenoid andfblade togietliervvith th'cornbinedsanitary plate and stop means aterlt 2,785,460 Patented :Mam yF19,i`:1957

ICC

C :for the blademaybe carried `byandidirectlyfvertically adjustedtogether with the plate supporti.ngthesolenoid. .i Yet, another andmorel specic objectief the invention is to. provide an automaticelectricallyoperated can opener @wherein4 the maximum power of the`solenoid"plunger shaft shall be utilized for operatingtheacantopening-.blade ,by directly mountingy thelatter thereon'.

- A A further important object ofi-the `invention is jto` pro- 4.vide anAautomatically `electrically :operated-tapan ,opener as .set forthiinthe foregoing objects wherein `the #wiring may be water-proofed byconcealment. in,onjefofthe4 `supi `porting standards `of the' device.

- These together with other;objects-.andfadyantages :which xY*will-become subsequently apparent,1 resideainetheA-tdetails of i iconstruction and operation as more1 fully/hereinafter described andclaimed, reference being#` hadLto.t-hefaci covmpanying drawingsVforming"aApartihereonwherein vlike numerals refer to like partsthroughout,` -andin which:

Figure 1` is a `view inverticalcentrallsectinfthrough a preferred.embodiment'fof a can roperiertincorporating i `therein the principles of.thisinventionfthe-positioning i `of thecan therein foropening and. the`removal-ici` the canb therefron'r4 after i openirlgi-` beingfshowtnillfI fulli lines, Y whilethe position of A,the can fortheiautomaticzopening operationV being `shown. in `dottedflines therein;

Figure 2 is a horizontal:sectional.-viewftakenqsubstanof Figure l andshowing in particular the locking'means whereby the can openeryhead.assembly-.1 including the Vsolenoid lcarrier plate for supportingthemsame is 1re1eas lably locked in verticallyadjustedfpositionjllporr,ther-sup- V `,porting standards of the device;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional-yrtdletail'view@taken substantiallyupon the plane indicatedlbytthersectionline i 3--3 ofFigure 1; e

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectionalwieW-.itaken'substan- V tiallyluponthe plane'indcated `-byathe seetionlinef4--4 of Figure l and alsodisclosing1 themannertinfwhich ythe solenoid plunger isslidably.guidedintthe solenoid carrier plate andf` stop plate;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan viewfofithe` base-o'fthercan opener;

`Figure 6 is a front elevationalwview showing alportion of the canopener head assemblyf-and theisupportingfbase ltherefor; i i

,- Figure 7 is a detail view `partly-in verticalsection u throughthelower end of the solenoid Vplunger":sh'aftand the knife blade openercarriedtherebyfand Figure 8 is a` fragmentary perspectiveviewifshowing acan lafter the same has been ol'sen'ed`fbyy thisjlcanY opener. A-s shownin the accompanying` drawings; asuitable embodiment of apparatus'forcarrying out theiprinciple of this invention consists of a`supportingfbase;10of a preferred construction to be subsequently;setfo'rth', Vand upon' which is` mounted a'headjas'sembly '12Y carrying`the operating parts ofl the 'can opener,"thereV being aplurality ofsupport standards'14by"whiclrlftheihad as- "sernbly is supported above,the base` togetherlvvith a .i depression, the 'same consistingofelevate` `tubular standard 16.

together With a back"wall"'24,"and a'frw'rdly' sloping bottom wall 26which iuclines downwardly from the back wall towards the open front endof the base.

As will be best seen from Figures l and 5, the undersurface of the baseand its back wall are upwardly recessed as at 30 to conveniently concealand house an electric conductor 32 by means of which electric currentmay be supplied to the automatic can opener. lt will be observed thatthe tube 16 has its lower end screw threadedly engaged as at 34 in abore 36 opening upwardly from the recess 30, whereby to receive electricconductors 38 which form a part of the electrical circuit of the device.A switch 40 is received in a further pocket or recess 42 openingupwardly from the recess 30, being removably retained therein as by ascrew or bolt 44. This switch has a forwardly projecting actuating ngeror button 46 which extends through the back wall 24 closely adjacent tooor 26 of the base and below the operating head 12 whereby the same maybe actuated by the lower portion of the wall of a can 50 when the latteris placed upon the base as will be apparent from Figure l.

Although this switch may be of any suitable construction, it ispreferred to form the same as a single pole,

normallyopened at each end of its travel and closed at the mid-portionthereof whereby the switch will be nor- Ymally opened, then closed whenthe lower end of a can moves the plunger to an intermediate position andis f again `opened when the can be pressed backwardly against the backwall, 4as will be apparent from the dotted line showing of Figure l.VHowever7 when the can is moved away from the back wall, as shown infull lines in Figure 1, the switch will return to its inoperativeforward position. It is especially important for the purposes of thisinvention that the switch shall be in this location inasmuch as anypossibility of the hand of the operator being injured by the descendingknife blade of the opener upon accidental manipulation of the switchbutton 46, is thus avoided. j

Y Referring next primarily to Figure l it will be seen that the head 12consists of a housing or casing 52 which is preferably cylindrical inshape and constructed of sheet metal, thesame being provided with aclosed upper head l portion 53. At a convenient position within thecasing 52, and disposed above the open lower end of the same is atransversely extending plate 54 which constitutes a carrier or hangerplate for the operating elements of the can opener. This plate isprovided with suitable apertures -vslidablyemhracing the two standards1.4 and the tubular posts 16 as will be apparent from Figure 4, and alsois provided with a non-circular central opening 56 for slidably andguidably receiving the solenoid plunger shaft 58 in a manner toy besubsequently set forth. Referring particularly to Figure 7 it will beseen that the lower end of this shaft is round and is externally screwthreaded as at 60 for detachably receiving an opening or cutter i 'blade62.y The latter has an opening point 64 with rearwardly divergent sideedges 66 and a forwardly and upwardly convergent single point or edge68.

This cutter blade is so shaped that it will cut a sub- V`stantiallytrangular opening as at 70, see Figure 6, in the top of the can,thisopening having an elongated apex `to constitute a vent for the can.The single blade secured to the solenoid shaft thus serves both to ventand open a ycan for dispensing its contents.

The cutter blade has a flat upper surface as at 72 which Vis adapted toabut against the underside of the plate 54 and` thus limit upward travelof the blade.

Carried by the plate 54 is a solenoid casir1g74, which rests uponthe'plate 54 and is clamped thereto as by the fastening bolts 76 and aclamping ring 73. The ring in' turn is secured asl by screws S0 to theupper or top surfaceofthe solenoid housing 74, as will be apparent fromFigures l and 2.

i ".tube 16 whose upper end is slidably extended through. the

carrier plate 54, and from thence are attached to the winding of thesolenoid, in a manner wellunderstood in the art and therefore deemed tobe unnecessary for a detailed showing in the drawing.

The armature or core of the solenoid 82 projects upwardly above the topsurface of the solenoid housing 74, and is provided with an enlargedhead 84, while a compression spring 86 surrounds the solenoid and abutsagainst the housing and the head to yieldingly urge the solenoid to itsupward or raised position, this upward position being limited by theabove mentioned engagement of the top surface '72 of the knife bladewith the underside of the carrier plates 54. When the solenoid isenergized, the plunger and the plunger shaft 58 will be drivendownwardly, thus moving the blade from its full line to its dotted lineposition as shown in Figure l and thus venting and opening the top of acan.

A simple and highly effective locking means is provided whereby theentire head assembly may be vertically ad ,iusted upon the standards 14for adapting the device to receive and operate upon different heights ofcans. For this purpose the standards 14 are provided with a plurality ofvertically spaced latching recesses or slots 88. From Figure 2 it willbe seen that the slots 88 in the two standards are disposed on oppositesides of the same, and a latching arcuately shaped blade or lever 90 ispivotally secured to the ring 78 and its top of the solenoid 74 as by apivot screw 92, this latch lever having at one extremity 94 a lockingscrew 96 extended through au arcuately extending slot 98 of the housing.

A leaf spring 100 is suitably mounted and operatively associated withthe latch lever 90 to yieldingly urge the same into latching engagementwith a selected pair of notches 88 in the two standards. In order toadjust the device it is merely necessary to release the locking screw96, whereupon the lever may be rotated in a clockwise direction asviewed in Figure 2 to release the vend portions of the lever 90 from thenotches 88, whereupon the entire head assembly may be verticallyadjusted upon the standards 14 and the spring 100 will again urge thelatch lever 90 into its locking position, whereupon the screw 96 may betightened to secure the same in such adjusted position.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 it will be seen that the lower open endof the housing 52 of the head assembly is provided with a removablecombined closure plate, sanitary shield and stop means, designated bythenumeral 102. 'This plate is provided with a central aperture or opening104 appropriately shaped to permit passage of the cutting edges 68, 64and 66 ofthe knife blade therethrough, under the impulse of the solenoidwinding coil, when the switch 40 is actuated, and to permit retractionof the blade, as from the dotted lines to the full lines showing ofFigure 1 when the solenoid is deenergized, under the thrust of thespring 86. This plate is provided with a curved depending flange orshield 106 v which is adapted to receive the upper edge of the can andprevents splashing of its contents, whereby any liquid spilled from thecan willbe collected upon the bottom wall 26 and drained therefrom tothe front of the device.

The plate 102 is provided with suitable aperturesrfor slidably receivingthe standards 14 and the tube 16 therethrough, and the plate isreleasably retained as by a thumb screw 108. When it is desired to`clean, service or replace the blade 62, it is merely necessary to removethe plate 102 -by releasing the thumb screw 108 and dropping the platedownwardly along the standards and column, ywhereby access may be had tothe knife blade.

It will thus be seen that the plate 102 with its depending guard 106serves to guide the can 50 into position for opening by the device, andconstitutes a stop means `limiting movement of the upper end of the can,whereby the upper end m-ay be placed against this guide means and thelower end pushed into position against the switch button 46 therebyIactivating `the opening element of the @dei/ice. s soon as 'the canffmodiications and changeswillv readily occur tofvthose '.sk'illedVinthe art, it is not desired: to-1imit theiinventon to the exactconstruction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A can opener comprising a base including a drain tray, a headassembly, a pair of stand-ards for supporting :a head assembly abovesaid base, said head assembly including a hood enclosing the upperportion of said standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the`top of a can when disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hoodyieldingly raising said cutter blade, means of ,imparting a downwardpunching stroke to said blade, means mounting said cutter blade in saidhood for vertical reciprocation, means in said hood for verticallyadjusting the head assembly upon said standards, said last meansincluding a plurality of vertically spaced latch notches on saidstandards, a latch lever within said hood .and pivotally supportedthereon for engaging said notches.

2. A can opener comprising .a base including a drain itray, a headassembly, a pair of stand-ards for supporting 1a head assembly abovesaid bas-e, said head assembly including a hood enclosing the upperportion of said standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the:top of a can when disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hoodyieldingly raising said cutter blade, means of imparting a downwardpunching stroke to said blade, means mounting said cutter blade in saidhood for vertical reciprocation, means in said hood for verticallyadjusting the head assembly upon said standards, said last meansincluding a plurality of vertically spaced latch notches on saidstandards, a latch lever within said hood and pi-votally supportedthereon for engaging said notches, said latch notches being disposed onopposite sides of said standards, said latch lever extending betweensaid standards. t

3. A can -opener comprising a base including a drain tray, a headassembly, a pair of standards for supporting a head assembly above saidbase, said head assembly including a hood enclosing .the upper portionof said standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the -top of acan when disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hood yieldinglyraising said cutter blade, means of imparting a downward punching stroketo said blade, means mounting said cutter blade in said hood forvertioal reciprocation, means in said hood for vertically adjusting .thehead assembly upon said standards, said last means including a pluralityof vertically spaced latch notches on said standards, a latch leverwithin said hood and pivotally supported thereon for engaging saidnotches, said hood having a slot, a locking device for securing thelatch lever in said notches extending through said slot.

4. A can opener comprising a base including a drain tray, a headassembly, a pair of standards for supporting a head assembly above saidbase, said head assembly including a hood enclosing .the upper portionof said standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the top of acan when disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hood yieldinglyraising said cutter blade, means of imparting a downward punching stroketo` said blade, means mounting said cutter blade in said hood forvertical reciprocation, means in said hood for vertically adjusting thehead assembly upon said standards, said hood having a Vcarrier plateextending across the same and xedly secured thereto, said .plate havingapertures slidably receiving said standards, said cutter blade, springmeans being carriedfby saidV plate.

. 5 Ar can.4 openen comprising a -base including aajdrainA-.tray,a.head,assemblyya painof-standardsgfon supporting a 44headassemblyabove said base, f. said` .heads assembly includingA achoodeenclosing .tl1e.upper;l po1:tion ,ofasaid standards, a-` cutterablade,for ventinga and punching?, `,the

.top off-ay canfwhenl` disposed. therebeneatlmgjspringmeans4.in--saidlhoocl' yieldinglyraising'saidacutter blade, fmeans of 104-imparting a.. downward l, punching `stroke -to-,s`aid"T blade, meansmounting said cutter blade in said hood for vertical reciprocation,means in said hood for vertically adjusting the head assembly upon saidstandards, said hood having a carrier plate extending across the sameand ixedly secured thereto, said plate having apertures slidablyreceiving said standards, said cutter blade, spring means, strokeimparting means and said head adjusting means being carried by saidplate, a closure plate detachably mounted within the hood beneath saidcarrier plate, a splash shield depending from the closure plate forpartially encircling the upper portion of ya can to be opened.

6. A can opener comprising a base including a drain tray, a headassembly, a pair of standards for supporting a head assembly above saidbase, said head assembly including a hood enclosing the upper portion ofsaid standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the top of a canwhen disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hood yieldingly raisingsaid cutter blade, means of imparting a downward punching stroke to saidblade, means mounting said cutter blade in said hood for verticalreciprocation, means in said hood for vertically adjusting the headassembly upon said standards, said hood hav-ing a carrier plateextending across the same and iixedly secured thereto, said plate havingapertures slidably receiving said standards, said cutter blade, springmeans, stroke impart-ing means land said head adjusting means beingcarried by said plate, a closure plate detachably mounted within thehood beneath said carrier plate, a splash shield depending from theclosure plate for partially encircling Ithe upper portion of a can to beopened, said closure plate having an opening tor passage of said cutterblade therethrough.

7. An electric can opener comprising a base, means for supporting .ahead assembly above said base for punctur ing a can positioned on saidbase and therebeneath, a pair of standards and a tube rising from saidbase, said head assembly including a carrier plate apertured for slidingand guided vertical movement on said standards and tube, a hood mountedon and enclosing said carrier plate and said standards and tube, vasolenoid having an armature mounted on said carrier plate, a cutterblade directly carried by said solenoid and depending therebeneatll,electric conductors for said solenoid extending through said tube, meansfor securing said head assembly in vertically adjusted position on saidstandards.

8. rl`he combination of claim 7 including a switch controlling saidsolenoid and mounted on said. base, an actuator but-ton :for said switchpositioned for engagement by the lower portion of a can when the latteris placed upon fthe base directly below said head assembly.

9. The combination of claim 7 including a combined safety shield andsplash guard comprising a closure plate releasably secured in the hoodbelow said cutter blade in its raised position, said closure platehaving an aperture for passage of the cutter blade therethrough duringits operation, said closure plate being apertured for sliding passingupon said standards and tube.

10. The combination of claim 7 including a combined safety shield andsplash guard comprising a closure plate releasably secured in the hoodbelow said cutter blade in its raised position, said closure platehaving an aperture for passage of the cutter blade therethrough duringits operation, said closure plate being apertured for sliding. passingupon said standards and tube, an arcuate splash.`

apron depending from said closure plate for encircling the upper portionof a can to be opened.

l1. A can opener comprising a base, a pair of standards rising from saidbase, a head assembly carried by said standards, said head assemblyincluding a vertically mova- 6 ble cutter blade for venting and punchingthe top of a can Awhen disposed therebeneath, means for raising saidcutter blade, means for imparting a downward punching stroke 'to sa-idblade, means for vertically adjusting said head assembly upon saidstandards including a plurality of verl0 2,747,272

tically spaced latch notches on said standards, a latch lever pvotallysecured to said head assembly for engaging said notches. Y Y

References Cited in the le of patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

